U.S. peace proposal reportedly calls for recognition of Russian occupation of Ukraine

The United States may recognize Russia’s de facto control of occupied areas of Ukraine in its final attempt at a peace deal between the two warring countries. The proposal also reportedly includes official U.S. acknowledgement of Russian control in Crimea and would bar Ukraine from NATO membership. Anonymous sources with direct knowledge of the proposal first broke the news to Axios on Tuesday.

The deal would also give Ukraine security guarantees via European peacekeeping forces, with no mention made of U.S. participation, according to Axios. It also would return to Ukraine the small occupied portion of the Kharkiv oblast, ensure Ukraine has full access to the Dnieper River, and give it money to rebuild. The deal did not specify where the money would come from, officials told Axios. The United States would also increase its economic cooperation with Russia, starting with the removal of sanctions.

How did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy react? Zelenskyy on Tuesday said Ukraine would never legally recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, according to The Wall Street Journal. However, on Wednesday he posted that though emotions had run high, he had a productive peace meeting with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

How did the White House respond? President Donald Trump on Wednesday blasted Zelenskyy on social media for his comments about Crimea. Trump said the comments posed a risk to negotiations and that no one was asking Ukraine to recognize the annexation. He urged Zelenskyy to quickly agree to a deal.

Is the U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal still on? The United States expects to sign the deal on Thursday, Axios reported.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report on the possibility that the United States could walk away from a deal if no progress is made.